Design Evaluation: Decomposition and State-space Analysis

Abstract

This paper outlines the increasing demands upon evaluation activity during the engineering design process. In particular, the need to address large numbers of innovative concept options during the conceptual design phase is stressed and a six-step methodology proposed. This methodology combines and integrates techniques of inexact reasoning with the need to combine two basic human approaches to evaluation, namely decomposition and holistic. The holistic evaluation elements comprise fuzzy estimates of probability of achieving Pareto optimal status combined with state-space analysis. An example demonstrates how these methods may converge to provide an appropriate support for human evaluation of emerging designs. It is concluded that the six-step methodology exhibits validity and time reduction in terms of providing an aid to the evaluation of a large number of merging designs and their associated design characteristics.